Yasser and Michael Launch Binomium

The fusion of two artistic minds, functioning on different wavelengths, yet collectively taken as one creative product is the reason for Binomium’s existence. The two-part publication, which focuses on the literary and illustrated works of Yasser Musa and Michael Gordon, is a dichotomy of the Old Capital as seen through the eyes of both artists. Despite looking at Belize City through different lenses, from a socioeconomic, political and geographic perspective, it is still seen as a dynamic melting pot rich with history. According to Musa, the body of work is another addition to pictorial glossary of the country.

Yasser Musa

Yasser Musa, Co-Author, Binomium

“This is a contribution to the visual dictionary of Belize. The concept Binomium means two particles coming together. You don’t necessarily know what will be the outcome of that connection or of that collision or of that union. And for the past three years we’ve been working as a team between Belize City and Merida, Joan Duran, Moises Martinez as the coordinators, the graphic designers. Belize City, Michael Gordon and myself as the subjects, if you would call it that, the content. And this collaboration, this connection, this team work has brought this book today. Well I don’t really look at it as a thematic book but as an art object that has two parts, binomium. On one side is the content that is driven by the ideas, thoughts and collaborations of Michael Gordon and on the other side by the thoughts and collaborations of me but interpreted by other people. So without the other people you couldn’t have this book. So it’s a kind of a catch twenty-two if you want to call it that. But at the core, the DNA, if you want to get to it, is this examination of a city, Belize City that is cut right down the middle by Haulover Creek. And on one side we have defined it politically, we have defined it socially, we have defined it by class. But now, artistically we are making an examination of this city, of the inner workings of this city through an artistic lens. It might have multiple ISOs, multiple pixels, sometimes the pixels might be low, sometimes the pixels might be high. So it is not one straight linear theme but rather a complex combination of ideas.”

Michael Gordon

Michael Gordon, Co-Author, Binomium

“I buss a book, right, with Mr. Musa to show my works of a past bringing a presence, right, that people would never know as future buyers. So, you know, we’re just walking into the future, you seem, bring my world as his idea to bring it together, as people wouldn’t know.”

Isani Cayetano

“Talk to us about some of your works in this particular book, Binomium. Some of your prose, your poems, et cetera.”

Michael Gordon

“In my world, right, I’ve never written a poem book as yet. I would maybe accept the documentary they would give for an art of mine.”

Binomium was launched before an audience of junior college students this morning at the Image Factory where the publication is also on sale.

Viewers please note: This Internet newscast is a verbatim transcript of our evening television newscast. Where speakers use Kriol, we attempt to faithfully reproduce the quotes using a standard spelling system.